Amphitheater "Themis Kanellopoulos", Congress Center NCSR "Demokritos"

Patriarchou Grigoriou & Neapoleos
15310 Agia Paraskevi, Athens

Press release (21/3/2017)

Starring the younf and older students from Athens, from kindergarten to High school, accompanied by their teachers, the tasks of the 5th Educational Symposium of Phycology were completed, achieving great success. The theme of the Symposium was "Algae in the Environment and in our Lives". 

The Symposium was attended by 6 school groups, who presented original and innovative works on the unknown to the general public world of algae and the aquatic environment of the Mediterranean Sea in general.

The tasks of the Symposium were completed in one day. On Saturday 18/3, at 10.00, the opening ceremony of the Symposium started, with greetings from the following:

• Dr. Katsaros Christos, Emeritus Professor of NKUA, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Symposium, Vice President of the Hellenic Phychological Society
• Dr. Orphanidis Sotirios, Regular Researcher ELGO ‐ DIMITRA, President of the Hellenic Phychological Society
• Dr. Fanourakis George, Research Director at the Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics and Head of the Education Office of the NCSR "Demokritos"
• Katopodis George, General Secretary of the Panhellenic Association of Bioscientists (P.E.B.)

These greetings were followed by two Sessions with presentations by invited speakers and presentations of original works by student groups of Primary and Secondary Education.

The 1^st Session, with Moderators Dr. Roussomoustakaki Maria and Dr. Tsagamilis Panagiotis, began with a scientific lecture by Dr. Orphanidis Sotiris (ELGO ‐ DIMITRA) on "Algae in the environment and in our lives: An introduction". Presentations of the following schools followed:

• 1^st Kindergarten of Melissia, with the theme "Discovering the unknown world of algae" with Ms. Alexandra Koskolou as educator in charge.
• 1^st Primary School of the Prefecture of Heraklion (students of the C Classroom), on the topic "Interview with a seaweed" and Mrs. Angeliki Tziatzia as educator in charge.
• Private School "Educational Renaissance", on "Collection and classification of algae on Lake Beletsi (Parnitha)" and Ms. Koumpena Valentina and Mr. Krimitzas Antonios as educators in charge.
• Poukamisa Tutoring Center of Agios Dimitrios, on the theme "Reduction of biodiversity: The case of Caulerpa taxifolia" and Dr. Panagiotis Tsagamilis as educator in charge.

The 2^nd Session, with Moderators Dr. Pantazidis Alexandros and Mrs. Koskolou Alexandra, began with a scientific lecture by Dr. Tzovenis Ioannis (NKUA) on the topic: "Algae and man: a journey from the past to tomorrow .... ». Presentations of the following schools followed:

• Leontio High school of Nea Smyrni, on "Spirulina: a species for the earth and space" and video screening on "cooking recipe (spaghetti with Spirulina sauce)", and Dr. Alexandros Pantazidis as educator in charge.
• Kaisari Schools (Group of students of the 3^rd grade) on "Cultivation of microalgae: A search to find their favorite food" with Mr. Talamaga Asimakis as educator in charge.

The 2^nd Session ended with a speech by Dr. Stamatakis Kostas, NCSR Researcher. "DEMOKRITOS", on the subject "Photosynthesis of cyanobacteria, the process that changed the 'history' of the earth".

Then, in the presence of all participating teams, a lottery was held and the winning prize was an underwater camera offered by NIKON Company, with the winner being the 1^st Kindergarten of Melissia. Ms. Alexandra Koskolou took the floor and argued that due to the young age of her students, the underwater camera could not be used and suggested repeating the draw, with the winner this time being the Leontio High school of Nea Smyrni.

The lottery was followed by the closing of the event and the transfer of the participants in the “Laboratory of Structural Studies of Biomolecules and Drugs with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) of the Institute of Biosciences & Applications of the NCSR. "DEMOKRITOS" with Dr. Marina Sagnou in charge. The experiential workshops for the students included:

• Observation of plankton under microscopes, stereoscopes and observation of macroalgae, with laboratory manager Dr. Katsaros Christos.
• Algae cards (museum, for nursery - herbarium, for field work, for exchanging wishes and messages), with laboratory manager Dr. Roussomoustakaki Maria, NKUA.

All participants were given Certificates of Attendance, the participating schools were awarded with an Honorary Distinction, while the co-organizers were given a Commendation, all offered by the Hellenic Phycological Society.

The Symposium was organized by the Hellenic Phycological Society (ELFE, www.phycology.gr) in collaboration with the NCSR "DEMOKRITOS" and the Panhellenic Association of Bioscientists (PEB), under the auspices of the Ministry of National Education, Research and Religions at the Conference Center of the NCSR "DEMOKRITOS", Patriarch Grigoriou & Neapoleos, 15310 Agia Paraskevi, Athens.

The main goal of the Symposium was to acquaint students with the wonderful world of algae, their importance to humans, their value and role in the environment. The ultimate goal is to direct children's attention to new horizons of knowledge. Thus, education becomes more interesting, converting into a game that increases skills, creativity and familiarity of students with the environment, while contributing to the progress of the country with innovative actions.

The presentations of the speakers, as well as the photographic and audiovisual material of the Symposium (photos, videos), will be posted on the internet (http://environmental.phycology.gr, facebook: 5^th Educational Symposium of Phycology).

Sponsors

Organizing Committee

Bathakou Zoi (Biologist, M.Ed., Educator), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Georgiou Martha (Biologist, PhD, 2^nd High school of Athens), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Daniilides Daniil (Biologist, PhD, Associate Professor, NKUA), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Katsaros Christos (Biologist, PhD, Professor, NKUA), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Kapsala Nafsika (Biologist, M.Ed., Educator), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Orfanidis Sotiris (Biologist, PhD, Researcher ELGO - DIMITRA), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pantazidis Alexandros (Biologist, PhD, Leontio High school of Nea Smirni), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Rhizopoulou Sofia (Biologist, PhD, Associate Professor, NKUA), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Stamatakis Kostas (Biologist, PhD, Researcher NCSR "Demokritos"), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Stasinakis Panagiotis (Biologist, PhD, 4^th High school of Zografou), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Talamagkas Asimakis (Biologist, M.Ed., Educator), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sofia Kainourgiou (Educator), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.